§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvements in(a) fighting infection and (b) dealing with chemical and radiological health issues have resulted from the replacement of the Public Health Laboratory Service with the Health Protection Agency. [144142]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Health Protection Agency (HPA) has integrated into one organisation expertise which was previously located in a number of different bodies and published its first business and corporate plan in August, which identifies a wide range of key targets for its first five years.
Since it was created, on 1 April 2003, the HPA has set up nine regional and 36 health protection teams across the country to bring a consistent approach to public health threats, and it has provided active management or assistance in a number of health protection activities. These include: an effective contribution to the international management of severe acute respiratory syndrome; leading the investigation of and assisting in the management of a national outbreak of salmonella infection; and providing expert advice in respect of a number of chemical incidents.